Norway is not only land of metal and fjords, but it also has excellent punk rock scene and Mollygogo are from Bergen, Norway. These guys play melodic punk mixed with ska and reggae parts not unlike bands like Mad Caddies, Less Than Jake and similar. Music is fast and up tempo with many not only ska parts but straightforward melodic punk rock faster parts and just makes you move along with it while listening to this fine record. Saxophone only enriches the sound and makes songs already rich with melody and emotion even richer. Main vocals are excellent, just enough deep and melodic not to be too mellow or snotty, I love it, even reminded me a bit of Chuck Robertson of Mad Caddies in couple of songs like for example ‘St.Lucia’, which is one of my personal favorites on this release. Backing vocal and harmonies sung by other guys fit perfectly to the songs and even made goosebumps on my skin couple of times while listening to the album. There are eleven songs on this little beauty. Lyrics are mainly personal but some can be read between the lines like awesome ‘Peace Talks in Beirut’. I also can say that ‘Famous Last Words’, ‘Only Way’ and ‘Marie’ are highlights for me on this album. This is one of better albums I have listened to in last couple of months.
Dead Pollys are no strangers to this webzine and they recently released new record with Too Loud Records. There are 12 songs on this release and the music is energetic, melodic punk rock, mainly fast and with rough edged vocals not typical for this kind of music, thus making this record a bit more original than other bands. But, I can also hear more harsher sound and harder songs, due to line-up change, with band having new drummer and new guitarist in their ranks. Besides melodic punk, I can hear lots of garage punk influence, even 77 style punk rock here and there, maybe it is only me hearing that in their songs. Lyrically the band explores future apocalyptic world where people rather give up than fight and pretty bleak landscapes are described in lyrics but also enabling us to open our eyes and try to fight for our future. I can only imagine how these songs sound nice and harsh live while listening to epic guitar melodies of ’94’ and ‘Two Weeks To Live’, couple of my personal favorites on this record, maybe because these songs could go into more melodic department of things, also ‘Yes, Sir’ is one of the highlights on this record, not accidentally chosen as a single prior to releasing this one. So, if you like your punk rock harsh yet melodic and garage at times, go listen to this one.
Oddball Creatures are coming from Lyon, France. They were formed in 2017 but had lots of line-up changes until mid 2019 when this line-up stabilized. This is their new release containing seven songs. With music of Oddball Creatures we can only say, humor, fun and more fun. With songs like ‘Like A Fart In My Mouth’, ‘We Want Beer’ or ‘I Just Need Your Ass’, you know what the lyrical themes are about, or you can just look at t title of the record or the cover picture. Music is melodic punk, leaning more and being more influenced by Ramones three chord attack, playing so called Ramonescore, reminding me a bit of Teenage Bottlerocket and similar bands who play that style of punk rock. Vocals are also a bit over the top, but that is a must when playing music like this one, this is in fact energetic punk rock with three chords and not much philosophy or wisdom. Just plain punk! My personal favorite on this record is ‘We Want Beer’ which has a bit more street punk influenced guitar work and a bit rougher edged vocals. Go have a listen!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 